10 Productivity Tips from a Blue-Collar Genius

Imagine a fifty-something man in a blue long-sleeve shirt, the cuffs unbuttoned, his knuckles thick and coarse. He’s on the side of the road, quibbling over a stack of used cinder blocks with a merchant.

This is my grandfather. And it’s 1980, roughly.

His brother, my great-uncle, shuffles the dirt with his boots beside the white 1953 Dodge van, the one with a hot 5.2 liter block engine in between the driver and passenger seat — an engine they fetched from the junkyard a few years ago and nursed back to life. A 24-pack of Stag warms on the engine case.

My grandfather was a magnificent man.

Father of twelve, husband to one. A carpenter, electrician, gardener, plumber, water skier, snow skier, welder … the builder of both of his houses, houses he built with recycled material, not paying a penny over value.

And there is something about looking at photographs of him, something otherworldly, marginally divine. Not quite the aura that comes with a photograph of Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Cobain, or Carl Sagan …

But a reverence and awe in its own right.

He was a blue-collar genius.

To say he had an influence on my life would be an understatement. In fact, a good part of how I work — how I get things done — I owe to him. Let me explain.

1. Teach yourself everything

My grandparents were staunch Roman Catholics. That meant a lot of things, but most visibly it meant they had a large family. Twelve kids to be exact. And it’s something that motivated my grandfather to no end.

Each time my grandmother told him that she was pregnant, he would go out and learn a new trade: how to operate a boiler, roof a house, frame a room, run plumbing, rebuild cars.

You name it, and that former city boy learned it.

For me this has meant to have the guts to discover how to write, negotiate, code, install WordPress, understand SEO, get usability, and so on.

Fortunately, the resources are out there to help you learn: the books, the blogs, the videos. Even hundreds of free online academies that can make you smarter in an afternoon.

2. Boil down your to-do list to two or three items

I can promise you that my grandfather never had a to-do list, the show piece of every productivity wonk worth his salt.

But boy, did he get stuff done.

His life was simple: work, build his house, eat, sleep, work, build his house. Throw in a baby here, a weekend down at the cabin on the lake with the boys there … and his life has a pretty simple and singular rhythm about it.

That lack of complexity meant he knew what he needed to do each and every day. There were few decisions to make about what to work on. Just get up and do it.

The same is true for a writer: write the blog post, work on the book, do the research. Keep it simple and focus on the most important things each day, day in and day out, 365 days a year.

3. Recycle everything

I spent several summers on my grandfather’s farm, painting everything that didn’t move: the goats’ fence, the railroad tie wall, the shutters … with a mix of paint left over from twenty different cans (think padded-room blue).

One summer my cousin and I dug a ditch forty feet long and four feet deep, then laid pipe for a septic line. Granddad picked up the pipe from a residential construction company who couldn’t use it because of a flaw.

Once a week I mowed three acres of grass with a push mower rescued from the side of the road.

No surprise, I lost my appetite for manual labor. What I didn’t lose was that appreciation for hard work … and the ability to be resourceful and recycle material. It was in my blood.

4. Get up early and stay up late

As you can imagine, money was tight for my grandfather. Food was usually bland, clothing was cheap and handed down, and the house was crowded (my youngest uncle often slept in the bathtub or closet).

But they never starved, never went in debt, always had shelter, and always paid their bills on time.

How? My grandfather was a hard worker, honest, but also an early-to-rise and late-to-bed kind of guy. Unless he was sick, he didn’t linger in his bed or the couch. He maximized his awake time and got stuff done.

The lesson for a content creator is this: work when you are at your peak.

5. Watch television on a small screen

As he got older my grandfather naturally started to slow down. To relax he would often watch television.

However, he didn’t splurge watching an Andy Griffith marathon with a 52-inch flat screen with surround sound. He kept to his tiny black-and-white for years when he could easily afford a bigger one. He simply didn’t want the distraction.

In my own life I have tried to maintain this habit. Outside of professional football and Phineas and Ferb, I watch little to no television. I also limit the videos I watch online and the articles I read.

6. Have fun

You would think that with how much he worked and the size of his family he would never have time to play. But that is wrong. My grandfather loved to play.

He taught every single one of his children how to snow and water ski. When he ran out of children to train, he taught my cousin and me how to snow and water ski. Not to mention he took tae kwon do with his youngest daughter, and he loved to fish.

He loved to work hard and play hard.

I must confess, this one is difficult for me because I have a hard time relaxing. And when I do relax, it’s usually behind a book. But when I can get out there and play ball with my boy, jump on the trampoline with the girl, or take a long hike with the little lady … it works wonders on me. It’s rejuvenating.

7. Be generous

My grandfather is probably rolling over in his grave as I say this, but I’m a selfish turd — stingy as all get out with my time. Ask me to help you clean up your yard after a thunderstorm has scattered debris everywhere and I’ll go limp.

“Sorry, I’ve got this rare disease where I go blind and can’t use my hands when I’m around a wheelbarrow. Or a chainsaw.”

My grandfather, on the other hand, wouldn’t hesitate to drop what he was doing to fix the AC unit for the widow across town.

I clearly have work to do in this area. But the lesson I learned from him is that when I do go out of my way to help someone, there is an indescribable emotional reward that follows. Whether it’s giving my time to a budding writer or aerating the lawn for a single mother, I learn that life is not about me … it’s about people.

Speaking of people …

8. Build and belong to a community

My grandfather bought seven acres on the backside of the city in an area teeming with trees and narrow two-lane roads. His plan was to give away an acre to each child who wanted to build a house. At its pinnacle he had six houses on those seven acres. All his children’s.

My grandfather loved family, his community, his tribe. And being part of that tribe is a magnificent privilege.

This is true online, too: when you find a culture and cause you can put your weight behind you feel less alone, you have purpose, and you become more optimistic about the future. This is definitely the vibe we’ve cultivated in our Authority forums.

9. Work on a small bit of a large project everyday

Here’s a question for you: when does a man find time to build a house when he has children everywhere and works 14 hours a day?

I really don’t know.

If it was me, I’m sure I would’ve just paid someone else. But not my grandfather.

It didn’t matter if it was only for 30 minutes, he worked on building his house. Installing a window here, pouring concrete there. Over time a house rose out of the earth. And he did that twice in his own lifetime.

For you, this could mean writing one blog post a week. Over time, an authoritative website will rise out of the Internet.

This holds true for any large project, like writing a book or building a business. Be patient, delay gratification, work on a small chunk every day … and in time you’ll have something majestic.

10. Learn to sleep anywhere

Perhaps this is less virtue and more survival strategy, but when you work 18 hours a day or more, you look for ways to get your rest. Here’s how granddad did it.

During breaks he would climb to the top of boilers and make a nest out of coats, then take a cat nap. Refreshed, he would return to his shift renewed and sharp.

After a long, humid morning of driving beams into the lake bottom to build a thirty-foot dock, granddad would get some shuteye on a lawn chair, his chin resting into his bare chest. Upon waking he was vigorous and feisty.

I’ve clearly inherited this trait. Around 2:00 p.m., I’m worn out. Circling the same task over and over again. Continuing to work is unproductive. I could boil up another pot of coffee, but I’ve found I’m sharper if I crash for five or ten minutes. After that short nap, I feel human again. And ready to go.

Sleep is essential. Get at least seven hours a day. And if you can, grab that nap. It’ll make you smarter.

Conclusion

My grandfather will never make it into a management book. He won’t appear on a list beside Benjamin Franklin as an efficiency hero. But that doesn’t mean he was any less successful.

He is a patriarch of a large family that I am blessed to be a part of. Every male and female from that family is a hard-working, productive human being. It’s a legacy that goes beyond my grandfather’s seventy years …

And it’s the sort of enduring legacy I wish to create. Not so much with wood, metal, and people. But with words, ideas, and stories. For the benefit of people. And I think that’s something that would make him proud.

Demian Farnworth

Want to graduate from the minor to the major leagues? Dominate your domain with an authorial voice that people listen to? Demian Farnworth can help you go from being a good writer to a great one. Learn more. You can also follow him on Twitter.

My blue collar hero is my grandfather too – with nothing to his name, he was one of the first blacks to be given a scholarship to a prestigious high school in my country. Not being able to afford a full time university education, he took a long distance correspondence course in Law, becoming one of the first people in the region to successfully complete it.

What a legacy, Demien. These are some very wise lessons for us living in a very frenzied world. I especially like the small to-do list and to work on small steps every day with a large project. Thank you!

Very good points – Although I disagree with point 1 “teach yourself everything”.

The problem is, most people get stuck in “learning mode”. As they say “ignorance on fire is better than knowledge on ice”. Its much more productive to get someone (outsource) trivial tasks like – WordPress install, Graphics creation, etc..

Not everyone can afford to outsource to being with but don’t think you have to then go and learn photoshop and design skills before you can create a logo.

It is great to have the ability to do things yourself but is spending 2-3 hours creating a logo or doing WordPress SEO the best use of your time?

Depends on your goals, and your natural skill set. Probably should’ve qualified this one … naturally there were some things that my grandfather didn’t teach himself, but if necessity demands you learn how to create a logo, then do it. You can only outsource when you have the money to do it. Or you learn how to barter. I had to do most house repairs (which I hated) until I could afford to pay someone else. Now I try to delegate … but there is also a lesson in knowing how to do these things even if you aren’t doing them … you know when someone is trying to snow you.

Wow, even though you do your best to “apply” the principles you observed in your grandfather, he was an amazing man. I personally am inspired from some of the character traits you describe here, and I am reminded of my own grandpa….living for benefiting others (both your tribe and the ones around you) used to be a way of living, but now, in this modern world…

Back to the topic. Thanks for opening up such principles, even though they both expose us (and you) and encourage us all to continue developing our character….

Wow! Great story – Very admirable. While I agree with Austin’s assessment on outsourcing, I still agree with your grandfather, learn everything. You should know the process. That’s how I see it. Very good thing to read first thing in the morning,

This reminds me so much of my grandmother and I feel very fortunate to have known her. She was a Swedish farmer and made everything textile in her home including mattresses, sheets, towels, rugs, curtains you name it. So did all the other farmer’s wives of her era. She had a washing machine but wouldn’t use it, it remained covered in plastic, as she claimed it wore out the clothes. She went on washing clothes by hand in a large basin. Not to mention all the food was provided on the farm from milk to eggs to vegetables and fruit to meat and poultry. The house often smelled deliciously of bread and pastries. We were scolded if we wasted water or forgot to turn off the lights or close the door when we left a room. It’s important to me that I saw how things were made, and that I can pass this on to my children – so many of the younger generation are totally disconnected from self-sufficiency.

Your Stag beer reference had me immediately because as a 65 year old Oklahoman it created a mutual information bonding. One commenter disagreed with learn everything but I agree. My understanding of it is simple. If I know enough about it I know how to outsource it because I know its value in time. I also know what the value is I should pay. This is learning I got from my Mother.

I had to study the picture a while to figure out his grip: left hand in an awkward underhand position, right shoulder hunched in effort, torso twisted, face contorted in concentration. Either he’s tapping precisely with a too-big sledge he happened to have in his hands or he’s perched on a roof girder desperately trying to keep his balance. Probably both.

Hi Demian – thanks for sharing this inspirational story of your amazing grandfather – it must be wonderful to have had such an incredible role model. The only point I’d take issue with is number 4 – I’m sure your grandfather had the good sense to get enough sleep, but I think some people might misinterpret this and, taken to extremes, it’s going to land you in sleep deprivation land, which is not a good place to be.

On reflection, I also think I agree with Austin about point 1 – we can’t all “know” and “do” everything and we have to make decisions about what to learn and what to outsource based on our individual situations, time, skills and aptitude. I’ve set up my own blog and mostly manage it myself, but I’ve come to realise that sometimes it makes sense for me to pay someone else to deal with some of the technical stuff I really struggle with.

Demian, great post. It is amazing how many comments talked about how significant their grandfather was to their development. My own grandfather was my father figure during much of my childhood. I got my work ethic, view of life and love of St. Louis history from him. Grandpa was big on point three also. Thanks for a thought provoking article.

Brilliant storytelling. My blue collar hero would be my partner. Although we work in a white collar profession, he has always taken a blue collar approach, much like your grandfather, to serving clients in a responsible, sustainable way. In other work, he’s built a cottage and home pretty much from the ground up, using self-taught ingenuity and recycled materials every step of the way. It’s an admirable work ethic that we hope our younger generation will appreciate someday. For now, they roll their eyes more often than not. If we all worked this way, if we all supported each other in working this way, I have no doubt we would all have more grace and sustainability.

I truly do admire people like your partner … they are an inspiration … seeming like there really isn’t anything they couldn’t do … just give them a little space, some tools, and watch them create something out of nothing.

Your writing is amazing, transporting me right into my own grandfather’s workshop. One of the main lessons I learned from him was to be patient. When he was crafting with his hands, he was so calm and patient. While he was rustling grandchildren, he was calm and patient. I still struggle with this, but thank you for reminding me to tap into his wisdom and his legacy!

Loved this article and how you related it to current times and working your business. I could picture your grandpa, working hard and playing hard, and it really brought back memories.

My whole family, both my mother’s and father’s sides, were all hard working blue-collar folks with large families. I grew up having everything I needed but not everything I wanted, but I think that has made me appreciate things more.

Seldom do I take the time to read an entire article, but this one I did. Not only did I see your grandfather, but mine, and my dad, and my husband. Coincidence? I think not. Thanks for this inspirational piece.

What an inspiring story. My brother and I were adopted by older parents who could have also been grandparents. They worked hard and I inherited the gene, but I’ve got to work on #2 and #9. Thanks for sharing.

This is a great example of dedicated hard work. I also liked that you highlighted the simplicity of life — I think that our lack of focus really does hurt us in the long run. And it certainly makes it harder to relax/play when the opportunity arises (I know this from experience).

On Friday I was copyediting.
On Saturday I was helping my father build an addition on a house (specifically, spraying insulation into an attic, which I’ve never done)
On Sunday I fixed my leaky sink, then went to a class on how to grow mushrooms.

My father’s first language was Irish and he never mastered being able to read and write in English. He migrated to New Zealand from Ireland in 1939 and worked on the wharf (docks) every day right up until the day he died. I now work with words and books and authors. Most birthdays he would buy me a book, a precious thing in our house. The stories of the saints, a novel and then in my later school years he would buy me dictionaries. All sorts of dictionaries, French, German, American English, English English, you name it, I had it. So from my father I learned my love of words, not because he could read or write them, but because he understood that words change everything.

I really enjoyed step 8 build a community. It was tied in very well with authority.

Reminds me of my grandfather a ww2 vetern for the italian army. Lot of points rings true especially working on a big project a little everyday. Hes 92 now and since my grandmother passed away in march he has been keeping busy around the home, gardening, planting flowers and vegetables and house chores.. its active things that will keep you going. that guy is a real soldier.
Great article!

Thank you for this blog post. It was certainly inspiring and thought provoking.

Your grandfather reminds me very much of my own. He passed away earlier this year, leaving behind 9 children, 50 grandchildren and who knows how many great-grandchildren. He was a school principle, janitor and general handyman. He loved to laugh and have fun, but was serious about providing for his family.

Thanks again. Not only did I learn a thing or two, but you let me skip down memory lane with my Grandpa once more.

Your post beautifully shows the power of both family legacy and of mentoring. Whether your grandfather did it intentionally or not, his life helped to set the course for the generations that followed.

It’s a vivid picture of the ripple effect of life lived authentically. It conjures a vision for how today’s fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and grandmothers can influence their offspring – simply by walking in the integrity of their hearts.

And, you have given me and others the chance to benefit from his influence. Thanks so much!

That’s a great point about leading by example. Each one of his sons has adopted that work ethic and sense of family. No one is flawless, but they’re all heroes in my book. It’s a ripple effect, indeed.

I love this post! It reminds me so much of my own grandfather who was a soldier in the ww2. He was such a great kind man and so hard working! He had his own land, too and built his own house. Additionally he had a little shop selling fruits and veggies from his land. He was so loving and so loved by everybody and he was very compassionate.

He had a really close relationship to all his children and grandchildren. and I think he inspired us all. It was amazing how he could talk to anybody and instantly have a connection with them. When he talked to children, he would become one of them and with adults, women, man, subordinates or higher ups – it didn’t matter. I liked to think I have inherited some of that…

So I really liked this post and I agree with it completely – great work!

I have added this post to my bookmarks because tips like this is something I can easily come back to and read again, great stuff! 🙂 I especially like the part about learning everything you can. One big advantage of that tip is that it will help make you an expert in your blogging niche. Once you are an expert – people will flock around you and want to learn everything they can from you. I hope to see more posts like this one more often! 🙂

Truly inspiring, Demian! With so much “new school” technology and processes coming online daily, it’s nice to be reminded of what can be accomplished with “old school” hard work, principles and philosophies.

Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man that clearly has left a lasting legacy. Your post continues that legacy … thanks so much for sharing his timeless wisdom!

Thank you. Loved reading this. Thought of my grandfather and father. Grandpa lost an arm and leg in an electrical accident at age 35. Remained a hard worker all of his life. Kicked our butts and taught us to appreciate what we had. He had a fruit orchard, we were his pickers. He would stand on the ground with his one arm and wooden leg and shout, ‘Use both hands!’ While we hung on for dear life.

Both my grandfathers are (were) blue collar heroes. My dad’s dad was a coal miner for 50 years, became a father for the last time at the age of 42 and raised four children alone when he became a widower two years later.

My mum’s dad was in the army and worked on the railways for 30 years. He was also a local councillor for many years and served as mayor. He’s been actively involved in his local community all his life, working for the council, the local regeneration partnership and more. He even helped out at the old folks’ drop-in centre when he was older than many of the people there.

People talk about changing the world but my grandfather has spent his life quietly helping the people in his local community and doing what he can to improve their lives. If everyone did that, the world would be a much nicer place.

I grew up in the shadow of a superhuman blue collar immigrant. My father was sent to watch farms during the night at the age of 5, doing back-breaking manual labor at 15 and running farms and selling livestock by 18, successfully pulling his parents and siblings out of poverty almost single handed. He was sent into a war soon after and escaped death for 2 years and then immigrated to the U.S. Growing up I was never allowed to sit around, mocked for reading and pounded inch by inch into a “working man”. Sounds horrible doesn’t it? But you know what? I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it. It made me a self reliant, hard worker who’s never faced a challenge I didn’t believe I could overcome.

#2 is huge for me. I used to literally have a to do list that was saved under “Epic To Do Live” and it had hundreds of items. I would print it out and then when I’d go to start something I’d get paralyses trying to figure out what my #1 priority was for that day.

A while back I started making a daily to do list with 2 or 3 items on the list. It resulted in a huge boost in productivity.

Thanks for the great list, I will be adding a few more of these to my routine!

My grandfather was a blue collar hero for me. He used to work hard every single day and night. He is frugal and doesn’t allow even building a home (a dream for my father) with a loan which could be easily cleared. My father was however optimistic and stubborn: He borrowed a loan, built the home and cleared it by the time I was born.

When it comes to helping nature, both my grandfather and father reflect each other. My grandfather was a wood seller and there were about 5-10 workers who at times, doesn’t bring their lunch boxes to work and it was grateful for my grandfather to feed them. My father, who (I don’t say he gives money to everyone), makes the poor better but not rich richer (He follows this Confucius principle).

Four lessons I could outline are being frugal to ourselves and being optimistic, stubborn and helpful.

This tops the list of favorite posts I’ve read recently. And so you know, i read a lot of websites and blogs, so that’s saying something. 🙂

You really point to the importance of really being in the moment, learning for yourself and not getting all tied up in a long list of to dos and plans. It’s so easy to spend an entire morning organizing e-mail and evernote and somehow never actually do anything.

I loved this article.. I’m very new to the community and I’m absolutely blown away with how helpful all the articles and free ebooks are. It’s articles like this that just definitely motivate me and thankful you shared it with us.

Your grandfather sounds incredible and exactly like mine – he built his own house, worked tirelessly in the mills to support his wife and 4 children, tended to his own farm, was an avid recycler and composter, was an influential member of his church (roman catholic) and would cat nap anywhere. He taught all his grandchildren (me included) the value of family and most importantly hard work.

I especially love #9. I have a huge issue with dreaming so big, I overwhelm myself. I want to start a blog but only focus on “how am I going to reach 100,000 subscribers?” or “I want to write a book, but how am I going to turn out 200 pages of excellent writing?”